Geothermal reservoir in Sri Lanka
Geothermal energy for growing power demand:
Disna Mudalige and Nadeesha Warnasuriya
The potential of buried geothermal energy in Sri Lanka and the
feasibility for developing geothermal energy as a source of power
generation must be given a serious thought, said Institute of
Fundamental Studies Director Prof. C.B. Dissanayake.
Addressing the commemorative program organized by the National
Research Council (NRC) of Sri Lanka at the Hilton Hotel on November 10
to mark its ten years of service to the nation and its scientific
community, he said that a potential geothermal belt running from
Hambantota to north of Trincomalee is discovered and there are about ten
identified thermal (hot water) springs situated along this line.
"Even though, Sri Lanka is not located in an active volcanic ground
unlike the vast majority of the countries that utilize geothermal
energy, there are indications that a sufficient reservoir of geothermal
energy exists at low enthalpy. This belt extends for over 300km and runs
through some of the most underdeveloped regions of the country, and
still can be utilized for national development," he noted. He pointed
out that, Sri Lanka has a major challenge ahead in its search for
alternate fuels with the ever growing demand for power and energy
sources, and research into other forms of energy has long been overdue.
"Environmental concerns have always impeded the utilization of many
fuels, and geothermal energy has minimum negative environmental
impacts," he explained.
He also stressed the need to work for a geothermal resource map as a
research priority and added that Sri Lanka must first find and locate
its natural resources. |
